Nicola Sturgeon's could see one of her pledges shelved by the SNP (Image: Getty)

       Nicola Sturgeon's promise to criminalise misogyny is set to be controversially shelved by the SNP Government. The party fears it could spark a culture war ahead of the upcoming Holyrood elections.

       Scotland's former First Minister previously promised new legislation to protect women and girls from abuse and intimidation. It was expected to be passed last summer but is yet to appear, and backbenchers believe it is now effectively dead. As reported by the Scottish Daily Express, the delay in publishing the bill is down to a case being heard at the Supreme Court on whether the UK's legal definition of "woman" can include biological males. Baroness Kennedy said she feared the bill might fall victim to the divisive debate around "woke" issues.

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       Her review into misogyny in Scotland and proposed new laws was published in March 2022. Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the report, which cost ￡1,000 a day to produce, and apologised to women convicted of being witches centuries ago.

       As well as prohibiting men from shouting abuse at women in public, the proposed act would make it illegal for men to loudly discuss sexual conquests and watch pornography where others can see it. It also proposed creating an offence of "stirring up" hatred of women.

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       Meanwhile, rape and sexual assault were set to become a specific offence as opposed to being covered by other laws. However, SNP backbenchers beliieve the bill is effectively dead.

       One backbencher told The Sunday Times: "I don’t think we will be seeing hide nor hair of it again. How can we legislate to criminalise misogyny when we can’t even agree on what a woman is?

       "It would open a whole can of worms which would be better left alone. I think the government knows it would be reckless to do that, especially in the run-up to an election."

       Sturgeon faces humiliation if the bill is shelved (Image: Getty)

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       For Women Scotland criticised the SNP Government for making "dishonest and offensive" excuses over the delay of the new bill. Marion Calder said: "This only goes to show, once again, that women are not a priority for this government.

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       "To suggest that our court case is to blame for these repeated delays is patently nonsense, given this legal action has been ongoing in one form or another for years.

       "Ministers had previously insisted it was full steam ahead. For the government to now attempt to blame women for their own failures is dishonest and offensive."

       A Scottish government spokesman said: "With the Supreme Court still considering a case concerning the meaning of 'woman' under the Equality Act 2010, it will be important to consider any implications of that judgment before any legislation on misogyny is introduced."